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Florida Democrats condemn Biden ‘in the strongest terms’ over shameful parting move

January 15, 2025 | | Print Article

President Joe Biden sparked the ire of his own party as he announced the removal of the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

The lifting of some economic sanctions and the release of “many dozens” of political prisoners will be secured with the change the Associated Press reported. The Florida Democratic Party (FDP) reacted in a press release to the White House announcement, declaring that they “condemn in the strongest terms” the move by the outgoing president.

“In taking these steps to bolster the ongoing dialogue between the government of Cuba and the Catholic Church, President Biden is also honoring the wisdom and counsel that has been provided to him by many world leaders, especially in Latin America, who have encouraged him to take these actions, on how best to advance the human rights of the Cuban people,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

“The Cuban foreign ministry on Tuesday said that the government informed Pope Francis it will release 553 people who had been convicted of different crimes. It said that they will be gradually released, as the authorities analyze the legal and humanitarian ways to make it happen,” the AP reported, noting that Biden’s move “is likely to be reversed as early as next week” when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Florida Democrats were among those condemning Biden’s decision.

“I am disappointed at the Biden Administration’s plan to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism,” Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said in a statement that was shared in a press release by the FDP.

“While any return of political prisoners from the clutches of Communist Cuba is cause for celebration, the regime’s treatment of the Cuban people continues to be one of the biggest human rights violations of the last century,” she continued.

“It would be naive to think that this negotiated exchange would signal a change in treatment for the Cuban people,” Fried said. “Generations of Cuban-Americans in Florida have told stories about the cruelty of the Castro regime — currently led by Raul’s hand-picked successor — and the dangers they faced in escaping to freedom in America. We condemn in the strongest terms Cuba’s removal from this list, as well as any possible lifting of economic sanctions, and call on the Biden Administration to reverse course immediately.”

Other Democrats also condemned the move.

Republicans and others also called out Biden’s departing move.

Frieda Powers
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